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The UK's "army of unpaid carers" is being "let down" by the failing social care system, campaigners warn.

Eight leading charities, including Age UK and Carers UK, have
joined together to highlight the plight they face under the umbrella of
Carers Week.
Feedback from 3,400 carers showed those providing the most intensive care often ended up with health problems themselves.
The government said there was now extra funding to allow carers' breaks.
It is estimated that one in six carers either give up work or
reduce their hours to look after elderly friends and relatives or
younger adults with disabilities.
The charities said it demonstrated the hidden effect of the squeeze on council-run social care support.
The numbers of elderly and younger adults getting help from councils has fallen in recent years.
And the coalition of charities said it was the 6.4m unpaid carers who were being left to take up the strain.Delayed diagnosis
It asked carers what impact caring and the lack of support had
on their health. Most of the responses were from those heavily involved
in caring for someone, often providing support on a daily basis.
Eight in 10 said their responsibilities had caused them health problems, including everything from back pain to insomnia.
And two fifths said they had delayed seeking medical help
with some reporting that had had serious consequences, such as delayed
cancer diagnoses and damage to lungs.
The coalition said carers should be offered regular health
checks and there needed to be better information and support available.

'SO FULL ON'

Tracy Sloan, 45, has cared for her son Phillip, who has severe cerebral palsy, for 20 years.
Last year, she put off a regular screening appointment and then discovered she had womb cancer.
"Looking after Phillip is so full on that it just didn't occur to me to keep an eye on my own health.
"I was really shocked when I discovered I had cancer and needed an operation.
"I came home from hospital exhausted, emotional and fragile.
"I needed the chance to rest but instead I had to deal with Phillip's demands too and that took its toll on my recovery."

Carers Week manager Helen Clarke
said: "It's a scandal that carers can't get the time or support they
need to look after themselves which could be jeopardising their health
as a result.

"Carers are feeling the strain of a woefully underfunded system and still we're seeing more cuts.
"Unpaid carers save the Government a fortune - £119 billion a
year - yet they're let down in return. It is time for urgent action to
tackle the crisis in social care."
This is just the latest research to highlight the problems facing the social care system.
Councils themselves acknowledge they are struggling to meet demand.
Last week a survey of social care chiefs showed that cuts
were still being made despite the government pumping extra money into
the system.
Sarah Pickup, president of the Association of Directors of
Adult Social Services, said: "It could not be clearer that there is a
desperate need for politicians from all parties to quickly find an
answer to how we, as a nation, are going to adequately fund social care
services in the future."
Ministers have promised the system will be reformed.
A Department of Health spokesperson said £400m of additional
NHS funding had been allocated until 2015 to pay for carers' breaks.
She added: "We know how important it is for carers to be able
to take a break from their caring responsibilities, to protect their
own physical and mental health.
"We also want to place the rights of carers on a much firmer
footing, so that the law recognises carers' rights and their role in
caring for others."
A social care white paper is expected to be published in
England in the coming weeks, but there are fears the trickiest issue -
how to fund it - will be put off.